Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-06-30
MRS. PIPER.
Mrs. Piper was a widow

"nSs UVcns
Mrs. Piper was widow
. Oh dear me,
This world is no. at all" she said The place
il used 10 be.
Nov my poor husband he was such good
man TO provide
never had tbs leastest care o. any thing out
side.
But nov,
A constant care, and Brindle's cal, I used 70
And those two Ayrshire heifers that We pu.-
chased in the fall
On dear.
My husband sleeping in the grave it's gloomy
being here.
The oxen Mr. Piper broke. and four steers
two year old
The blind mare and the little colt they all
wait 10 be sold
Por how Am 20 keep EN- now. and yet how
shall sell.
And what's the price they ought 70 bring, how
can woman tell.
Dow Jacob Smith, he called last night, and
stsid I'll nine O'Clock.
And talked and talked, and talked and talked,
and tried 10 buy my stock:
BE said he'd pay higher price than any man
in town;
He'd give his note, OF. il, ! chose, he'd pay the
money down.
But, there!
To let him take those creeturs o.: really do
not dare.
For It's lying world, and men are slippery
things al best;
Ny poor dear husband in the ground he
wasn't like the rest.
But Jacob Smiths q different case; II I would
let him. now,
Perhaps he'd wrong me on the horse OF cheat
me on COW;
And so
I do not dare 10 ,rus, him. and mean to an
sEer No
Mrs. Piper was a widow
. Oh dear me-
A single woman with a farm must fight her
way" said she.
a. OF every thing about the land my husband al
ways knew;
j never felt when he was here, I'd any thing
TODD:
But nOs. what fields 10 pillow.
And how much hay i ought 20 cut and just
what crops 10 SOW,
And what to tell the hired Een, bow CO. .
woman know:
Oh. dear.
With no strong arm TO lean upon, it's lone
some being here!
NowJacob Smith, the other night, he called
on me again.
And talked and talked. and talked and taIke,,
and staid till after ten;
He said hs d like 20 take my farm, TO buy it
or TO lease
I do declare, wish that man would give nc
any peace!
For. there,
To trust him with my real estate / truly do
not dare;
For. II he buys il. on the price he Il cheat me
underhand:
And il he leases il, know he will run out the
land
And. If he takes il At the halves both halves
he'll strike for then.
Its risky work when women folk have deal
ings with the men!
And SO
do not dare to trust him. and mean to an
swer No"
Mrs Piper was widow
- Oh. dear me.
Yet have stin some mercies left: won't
complain" said she.
= Ny poor, dear husband knows, ! trust bet
ter world than this:
-Twere sinful selfshness in me to grudge him
Heavens bliss.
So now,
] ought 70 bow
70 Wlat - SeNl-NOt ElCr.CGr
and rcpine;
The hand that sends our trials has in all
some good design.
Oh. dear
we knew all. we might no, want our buried
lost ones here
And Jacob Smith, he called last night, but il
was not 10 see
About the cattle or the farm. bat this time it
was me-
He said he priced me very high. and wished
I'd be his wife,
And If did not hs should lead a most unhap-
py life.
He did not have a selfish thought but gladly,
for my sake.
The care OF all my stock and farm he would
consent 30 take
And there,
To slight SO plain Providence / really do
not dare.
He'll take the cattle Of my mind, he'll carry
on the farm
! haven't since my husband died had such
sense or calm,
think the man was sent 10 me-a poor lone
woman must
Ii such world as this. feel, have some one
she can trust;
And so
/ DO not feel it would be right for me 70 an
swer No.
Harlan Douglas, in Century Magazine.